The Putin Media

Edward Snowden's protector dissolves a news agency.

Updated Dec. 18, 2013 9:12 p.m. ET

Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing criticism at home and abroad, and on Monday he indulged one of his favorite responses: Moving to further control Russia's media. Will we be hearing a comment on the decision from Glenn Greenwald and Edward Snowden?

Mr. Putin's preferred form of governance is the presidential decree, and his latest one dissolved the state news agency, RIA Novosti. It seems the agency has sometimes offended the...